Push-button-switch construction



Dec. 18, 1928. 1,696,151

. F. STAEDELI PUSH BUTTON SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 1Q 1925 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. is, 1928.

UNITED STATES,

FELIX STAEDELI, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO FRANCIS KEIL & SON, 'INC., A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PATENT OFFICE.

PUSH-BUTTON-SWITCH v cons'rnucrion.

Application filed October 10, 1925. Serial No. 61,627.

This invention relates to circuit-controlling devices and more particularly to construction of push button switches.

One of the objects of this invention isto provide a thoroughly practical push button switch construction, and moreover a construction of this nature which lends itself readily to rapidity and low cost of manufacture. Another object is to provide a push button switch of simple construction and of thoroughly reliable action when in practical use. Another object is to provide a construction of the above-mentioned nature in which the several individual parts will be of simple, compact and inexpensive construction and capable of rapid and convenient assembl or disassembly. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the ap plication of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of this invention,

igure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a bottom view in plan of the push button switch shown in Figure 1, all in assembled relation.

Figure 3 is a detached view in perspective of one of the parts of the push button switch shown inFigures 1 and 2, and

Figure 4 is a detached view inperspective of the contact-making mechanism, and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Similar reference characters refer to sim ilar parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referriugnow to thedrawing and more particularly to Figure 1, there is generally indicated at a sheet metal casing, preferably of a general dome-like shape, and provided with a substantially centrally positioned opening 11 at its upper portion and with an outwardly and peripherally extending annular portion 12 at its lower portion, the latter being in turn flanged as at The flange 13 is adapted. to rest against the surface of the wall to which the device is to be attached, suitable openings 14 (see also Fig. 2) being provided in the laterally extending portion 12 for the reception of suitable screws for fastening the casing 10 to the wall.

The casing 10 is preferably of circular shape and as will be seen, may be readily stamped or struck up out of an appropriate sheet metal. lVithin the casing 10 is contained the contactmaking mechanism, and the latter is so related to the casing 10 that the resultant construction is substantially self-contained or unitary, and so that the assembled device may be readily and conveniently secured in position, as to a wall, without interference with the contact-making mechanism or the parts directly associated therewith. The contact1naking mechanism includes an insulating member 15 (see also Fig. 4) preferably made of sheet fiber, for example, and thus capable of being rapidly and conveniently stamped or lating member 16 are the two oppositely disposed end portions 18 and 19,each in cross-section substantially rectangular.

The main body portion 1617 of the insulating member 15 has threaded therethrough two screws 20 and 21, but from the under side thereof, as will be seen from both Figures 1 and 4. These screws 20 and 21 are adapted at their lower or headed ends to have connected thereto appropriate electrical conductors forming part of the circuit in which the device is to be includ ed, and the headed ends of these screws thus conveniently serve to securely clamp the conductors against the insulating member 15. The upper or inner ends of the screws 20 and 21 are adapted to coact with a spring contact member 24, preferably made up of a suitable sheet metal of appropriate resiliency.

One end portion, such as the portion 16, of the main body portion 16 l? of the in sulating member 15, is slotted or cut away in a direction toward the opposite end portion 17 so as to provide an outer slot 22 and an inwardly directed extension 23.1111318015 but of less width than the main slot 22. as will be seen from Figures 2 and 4:.

The spring contact member 24 is bent or shaped to provide a fiat inner end portion 25 adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the insulating member and provided with a suitable opening through which the connecting screw, 21 may pass. The flat portion 25 of the sprung; member 24: is of a width substantially equal to that ofthe inner or narrower slot 23 Fig. 2) and is thereupon bentdownwardly so as to extend through the slot to a point substantially coincident with the plane of the lower surface of the insulating member 15. From this point on the" spring member 2 1 is of increased width. and moreover of a width. substantially equal to the width of the outer slot 22, and bent over in an upward direction as at (see. Fig. 5) so as to pass through the wider slot 22 and thence back upon itself and over the inner ends of the connecting screws 20 and 21.

The relation of the contact spring 24: to

the insulating member 15 (as hereinabove described) has a number of peculiar advantages. Among the latter may be noted first that as will be seen from bothi igures 1 and 5, the shaping of the contact spring 2 1 so as to be looped downwardly as at 26 makes possible the attainment of a high and nice degree of flexibility, all within the small available space. But a particular advantage resides in the great facility with which these two parts may be assembled. The portion of the spring member 21 will be seen to be spaced in avertical direction as viewed in Figure from the exposed. edges 27 and 28 (see also Fig. 2) out that part or the spring member 2 1- which is of greater width. than the portion 25. by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the insulating member 15. The spring member 24- may thus be assembled with respect to the insulating member 15 by merely sliding the spring member 21 in a direction toward the right as viewed in Figure 5. and into the ultimate position shown in this figure. During this action the portions of the insulating member 15 which form the side walls of the slot 23 are passed in between the upper portion 25 of the spring 24 and the laterally projecting edges .17 and 28. the former prei 'enting av downward displacement of the spring and the latter an upward displacement of the spring member 24.while a subsequent advancement of the screw 21 through the opening 25 of the spring member 24 positions the screw 21 so as to prevent a lateral displacement of the siring member 2 1 with respect to the insulating member 15.

The portion of the spring member 21- which overlaps the conncctinp screws 20 and 21 is preferably arranged to coact not only with the screw 20 but also with the connecting screw 21,v even though the latter may be in electrical contact with the portion of the spring member 24, and when the parts are assembled as above described, the insib lat ing member 15 with its associated spring melnbc' and connecting screws in; in readiness to be mounted within the casing; 10.

Supported from the uppercentral portion of the casing 10 is a supporting member generally indicated at 29, and shown in perspective in Figure 3. This supporting member 29 is made of a suitable sheet metal having preferably a substantial degree of resiliency. The member 29 comprises a coir tral portion 30 provided with an opening therein adapted to register substantially with the opening 11 in the upper portion of the casing 10, and integrally formed with the portion 30, the member 29 has two oppositely disposed and downwardly directed arms 31 and 32, provided with substantially rectangularly shaped openings 325 and 3-1 respectively. The. member 29 is secured within the housing 10 in any suitable manner and conveniently is secured thereto by means of a sheet metal collar 3.1 adapted to fit into the registering openings of the casing 10 and the member 29 and having" its upper and lower ends spun over so as to securely fasten the member 29 into the cusing 10.

The depending; arms 31 and 32 ot the member 29, as will be seen in Figure 1, approximate in vertical section the outline of the casing 10, but because oi the spring material of which they are made. the arms 31 and 32 tend to be urged one toward the other. The openings 33 and Ill in the arms 31 and 32 respectively of the member 2! are shaped, substantially rectangular-1y as: hereinaboye noted. in order to :mbstantially snugly receive the o 'ipositely disposed lateral portions 18 and .19 (see Figs. 2 and 1) oi the insulating member 15. And in in serting the insulating member I? with its associated mechanism within the casing ll). one end portion, such as the cud portion 19, is inserted within the opening of one of the'depeiulin c arms oi" the member 29. (for example. the opening; 3- in the arm 32 thereof)", and with the overlapping portion of the spring member 24 directed inwardly with respect. to the casing 10. The insulating member 15 is thereupon swung inwardly so as to carry the oppositely disposed end portion 18 thereol against the lower ontwardly curved portion of the opposite arm 31 in the supporting member 29, thus causin; the arms 31 and 32 of the member 29 to be urged away one from the other. and upon continued inward movement of this one end of the insulating member 15', it is brought into registry with the opening 33 in the arm 31 and the spring arms are thereby permitted to spring toward each other and thus to hold the insulating member 15 with its associated parts in assembled relation.

This assembly of the parts as above described will beseen to carry and position the overlapping portion of the spring 24 for coaction with an appropriate push button 36 extending upwardly through the central opening in the upper portion of the casing 10 so that asubsequent actuation of the push button 36 may be made effective to move the operative yieldable portion of the spring 24 into electrical contact with connecting screw 20 or both connecting screws 20 and 21. The shape of the crossseetion .of the end portions 18 and 19 of the insulating member 15 and the corresponding shape of the openings 33 and 34 in the depending arms 31 and32 of the supporting member 29 will be seen to be such as to effectivel prevent a rocking of the insulating mem er 15 upon the subsequent actuation of the push button 36 While the portions 18 and 19, being laterallydisposed with re speet to the main body portion 16-17 of the insulating member 15, make available a maximum amounttofspace within which to support and house the electrical contactmaking mechanism. The latter may thus be made of substantial relative size and is thus well adapted for durability as well as for long-continued and dependable action when in use.

Moreover, it will be seen that, should it become necessary, the parts may be readily taken apart, it. being noted for example, that the lower and outwardly bent portions of the spring arms 33 and 34 may be readily moved away from' one another and against their inherent resiliency, thereby to permit the disengagement of one or both of the spring arms from the part or parts ofthe insulating member 15 coacting therewith. Similarly, the withdrawal to a sufficient distance of the connecting screw 21 readily permits the spring member 24 to be swung or slid out of engagement with the insulating member 15, it being thus noted that the ready and convenient disassembly of the parts makes possible the rapid replacement or repair of any of the parts, should such replacement or repair be necessary.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided in this invention a push button switch construction in which the several objects hereinbefore set forth, together with many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. It. will be seen in particular that the severalparts are individually of inexpensive manufacture, many if not all of them being capable of being readily stamped or struck up, while all of the parts lend themselvesto rapid assembly, thus conducive to inexpensive production of the device. 1

As many possible embodiments maybe made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that. all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limit ing sense.

I claim as my invention: I

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a casing having means adapted to permit it to be secured to a wall. and provided with an opening in theupper part thereof, a push button in said opening, an insulating member carrying connecting mechanism adapted to be actuated by said push button and having a pair of oppositely disposed end portions of substantially rectangular cross-section, and means within said casing and arranged in depending relation with respect thereto for holding said member within said casing, said means includ ing a pair of oppositely disposed members,

. each provided with a substantially rectangularly shaped opening to receive an end portion of said insulating member and each made of spring material and yieldably urged one toward the other.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a casing having means adapted to permit it to be secured to a wall and provided with an opening in the upper portion thereof, a push button in said opening, a member formed of insulating material of a substantially rectangular shape and carrying connecting mechanism including a spring adapted for actuation by said push button, said springoverlapping said memher and extending lengthwise thereof, and an inner member within said casing having a pair of oppositely disposed depending yieldable members each provided with an aperture, said insulating member being provided with two laterally projecting portions adapted to be received respectively within the apertures in said depending arms.

3. In a device of thecharacter described, in combiantion, a casing adapted to be secured to a wall and having an opening in the upper portion thereof adapted to receive a push button, an inner member within and extending across said casing and shaped to provide two oppositely disposed depend ing portions, an insulating member carry ing connectingmechanism including a flat spring overlapping said insulating member and adapted to be actuated by said push button, and means on said insulating member adapted for inter-engagement with said oppositely disposed depending portions of said inner member, said means being positioned with respect to said insulating member so that the flat spring carried by the latter extends transversely of said inner member.

4. In a device of the character described, in. combination, a casing, an inner member extending across said casing and. provided with two substantially oppositely disposed depending portions, one of which is yieldable with respect to the other, and an insulating member carrying connecting mechanism, said depending portions of said inner member and said insulating member being shaped so as to permit the latter to be engaged by the former upon relative movement between said depending portions.

5.. In a device of thecharacter described, in combination. a member formed of insulating material adapted to have passed therethrough a pair of screws, each adapted to have secured thereto an electrical condoctor, said member being cutv away at an end portion thereof to provide a slot having an inner portion of less width than the outer portion thereof; and a flat spring member associated with said insulatin member and shaped to. provide an end portion adapted to rest against an upper part of said insulating membeiya downwardly bent portion of a width to be received with in the inner portion of said: slot, and an extension thereof of a width to be received within the outer portion of said slot and bent to pass upwardlythenethrongh and thence into overlapping relation with respect to one of saidscrews.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, a member formed of insulating material adapted to: have passed therethrough a pair of screws, each adapted to have secured theretotan electrical conductor, said member being cut away at an end portion thereof to. provide a slot having an inner portion of less width than the outer portion thereof; and a flat spring member associated with said insulating member and shaped to provide an end portion adapted to rest against an upper part of said insulating member, a downwardly bent portion of a widthto be received within the inner portion of said slot, and an extension thereof of a width to be received within the outer portion of said slot and bent to pass upwardly therethrough and thence into overlapping relation with respect to one of said screws, wherebysaid spring may he slid into assembled relation with respect to said insulating member, said end portion of said spring member having an aperture therein to receive one of said screws, thereby to prevent displacement of said spring member.

7. In a device of the character described, in combination, a member formed of insulating material and. having a pair of screws passing therethrough, each adapted to have secured thereto an electrical, coir ductor; and a spring made of fiat material and adapted for coaction with one of said screws, said spring being shaped to provide an upper portion for engagement with an upper part of said; member, a lower portion for engagement with an under part of said member, and an operative yieldable portion extended upwardly from said lower portion and into overlapping relation to one of said screws; whereby said member may be inserted between said upper and lower portions ofsaid spring.

8. In a device of the character described, in combination, a member formed of insulating material and having a pair of screws passing therethrough, each adapted to have secured thereto an electrical conductor: and a spring made of flat material and adapted for coaction with one of said screws, said spring beingshaped to provide an upper portion for engagement with an upper part of said member a; lower portion for engagement with an under part of said member, and an operative yieldable portion extended upwardly fromsaid lower portion and into overlapping relation to one of: said screws, whereby said member ma be inserted between said upper and lower portions of said spring, and the other ofsaid screws passing through said spring member to prevent withdrawal of said insulating; member on said sprin 9'. Ina device of the character described, in combination, a. casing adapted to rest against a wall and having means adapted to permit it to be secured thereto, an insulating block carrying a terminal member and a spring member adapted to make or break an electric circuit, means within said casing adapted to form a seat for receiving an end portion of said insulating block, and a. member yieldablv mounted with respect to said means and adapted to receive an opposite end portion of said insulating block, said last-mentioned means having an exposed portion extended to form a finger piece and adapted topermit manual movement of said yieldable member to client ongagement or disengagement thereof with rcspect to said insulatingblock.

10. In a device of the character dos ritual. in combination, a casing adapted to rest against a wall and having means adapted to permit it to be secured thereto, an insulating block carrying a terminal member and a spring member adapted to make or breakan electric circuitand a plurality of spring members within said :asing and vieldably urged inwardly adapted to yieldinglymove apart to receive and to thereupon move toward each other to hold said insulating bloclc therebetween.

Ill)

11. In a device of the character described,

in combination, a casing adapted to rest against a wall and having means adapted to permit it to be secured thereto, an-insulating block carrying a terminal member and a spring member adapted to make or break an electric circuit, and a plurality of spring members within said casing and yieldably urged inwardly adapted to receive and hold said insulating block therebetween, said members being bent outwardly at their lower ends to permit said insulating member to be rammed into position therebetween.

12. In a device of the character described,

in combination, a casing adapted to rest against a wall and having means adapted to permit it to be secured thereto, an insulating block carrying a terminal member and a spring member adapted to make or break an electric circuit, a member within said casing shaped to form a seat for receiving an end portionof said insulating block, and a member adaptedto inter-engage with an op posite end portion of said insulating block, one of said members being yieldable with respect to the other and one of said members being shaped at its lower end to permit said insulating block to be cammed into 1 position between said members.

In testimony whereof, I'have signed my name to this specification this second day of October, 1925. V

FELIX STAEDELI. 

